Stretch Belt with Pocket

ABSTRACT

An adjustable stretch belt with a pocket allows a user to carry items securely, conveniently and in a bounce-free manner while being active, while having the ability to adjust the sizing of the belt with an internal adjustor such that one size stretch belt can fit a variety of waist sizes, and allowing a user to vary the tightness as desired.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of prior U.S. application62/995,537, filed Feb. 3, 2020, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While engaging in sports like running, biking, walking and many outdoorand leisure activities it is often desirable to bring personal itemslike phones, cards, money, medication, personal medical devices,sunglasses, eye drops, or other items a person may need. The followingdiscloses a stretch belt with pocket that addresses the need to carrythese types of personal items in a novel, versatile, comfortable,convenient and ergonomic and readily manufacturable manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A preferred version of a belt includes a panel of material forming thebelt, wherein the belt forms an endless loop configured to be placedabout the waist of a user. A pocket is positioned on the panel ofmaterial forming the belt. An adjustment belt is attached to the panelof material, the adjustment belt having a length greater than acircumference defined by the endless loop, the adjustment beltpositioned with respect to the panel such that the adjustment belt isplaced about the waist of the user together with the belt when the beltis placed about the waist of the user. An adjuster is connected to theadjustment belt, the adjuster releasably securing the adjustment belt ina plurality of positions, whereby the length of the adjustment belt maybe increased or decreased.

In some versions, the panel further comprises a front panel and a rearpanel joined to the front panel.

In some versions, the pocket is positioned on an interior surface of thepanel.

In preferred examples, a closure is provided for selective access to thepocket, the closure most preferably being a zipper.

In some versions, the panel of material forming the belt further formsan interior tube, and the adjustment belt is positioned within theinterior tube and surrounded by the panel of material forming the belt.

In preferred versions, at least one belt retainer is positioned withinthe interior tube, the adjustment belt being trained within the at leastone belt retainer.

In preferred versions, the interior tube forms the pocket, the beltfurther comprising a closure for selective access to the pocket.

Mos preferably, the adjuster is positioned within an opening of theclosure when the closure is in an open position.

In some examples, the at least one belt retainer comprises a pluralityof belt retainers, the plurality of belt retainers further defining agap between two of the plurality of belt retainers, the adjuster beingpositioned at the gap when the adjustment belt is trained through theplurality of belt retainers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention aredescribed in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a user wearing a preferred stretchbelt with pocket in accordance with the disclosed invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a user wearing a preferred stretchbelt with pocket in accordance with the disclosed invention.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a user wearing a preferred stretchbelt with pocket in accordance with the disclosed invention, furthershowing a zipper in an open position to allow access to an adjuster foradjusting the length of the belt.

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of a preferred stretch belt.

FIG. 5 is a rear plan view of a preferred stretch belt.

FIG. 6 is a section view taken through section A-A shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an inside plan view of a partially assembled stretch belt. Anadjustment belt has not been assembled and is not shown.

FIG. 8 is an inside plan view of a partially assembled stretch belt. Anadjustment belt has not been assembled and is not shown.

FIG. 9 is an outside plan view of a partially assembled stretch belt,showing a side opposite that of the view of FIG. 8. An adjustment belthas not been assembled and is not shown.

FIG. 10 is an inside out plan view of a partially assembled stretchbelt.

FIG. 11 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a right-side-out plan view of partially assembled stretchbelt.

FIG. 13 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a section view taken through section B-B of FIG. 12. The belthas not been installed.

FIG. 15 is a section view taken through section B-B of FIG. 12 whereinin this section the stretch belt is shown as it would look with a beltinstalled.

FIG. 16 is an inside plan view of a partially assembled stretch belt.The side of a stretch belt adjacent stitch is shown slightly tiltedupward (out of the page).

FIG. 17 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 16, althoughthe area adjacent the stitch is shown in a flat orientation.

FIG. 18 is an inside plan view of a partially assembled stretch belt.The belt has not been installed yet.

FIG. 19 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is an inside plan view of assembled stretch belt 10 wherein belt20 has been installed.

FIG. 21 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is an inside plan view of assembled stretch belt wherein theadjustment belt has been installed.

FIG. 23 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 shows a plan view of the adjustment belt wherein a portion ofthe length of the adjustment belt is shown cut away.

FIG. 25 is a section view of a portion (enlarged to show detail) takenthrough the adjustment belt and tri-glide to show the threading of theadjustment belt through tri-glide to allow adjustment of belt length.

FIG. 26 is a right side out plan view of partially assembled stretchbelt wherein a center stitch is shown eliminated such that one mainpanel is shown.

FIG. 27 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG. 26.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred stretch belt 10 is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,and is shown in perspective views in FIGS. 1 and 2 positioned about thewaist of a user 50. In one version, the stretch belt is formed fromstretchy but breathable panels, including a front panel 1 and a rearpanel 2. Most preferably, each of the front and rear panels are madefrom a fabric material such as stretch nylon with spandex, polyesterwith spandex, or yet other materials. In some versions, one or both ofthe panels is formed from a fabric which is less stretchy, such as frompolyester but without a spandex component. In one version, the fabricpanel material has a thickness between 0.25 mm and 0.75 mm. In mostcases the thickness for the sheet material used is between 0.35 mm and0.65 mm thick with 0.5 mm being an optimal thickness in many cases. Thepreferred weight of the fabric is between 250 grams per yard and 500grams per yard (when 58″ wide stock material is used). Directionalstretch material in some cases may be desirable; for instance if 2-waystretch material is used it may be desirable to orient the stretch ofthe material perpendicular to the length of the belt (with lengthdefined in a direction about the waist of the user) such that bounce canbe controlled, although in some cases it may be desirable to orient thestretch of the material parallel to the length of the belt which couldin some cases provide a more fitted stretch feel. 4-way stretch materialcan also be used and is generally preferable as it gives a desirablecomfort feel as well as stretches to fit the contents being carried inthe preferable pocket or pockets.

In the illustrated example, each of the front panel 1 and the rear panel2 are folded over to define interior pockets. A front zipper 6 and arear zipper 7 are attached to the panels, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.Invisible-style or visible-style zippers are desirable for zippers 6 and7. Zipper pull 8 for zipper 6 and zipper pull 9 for zipper 7 are alsopreferably included, and either zipper pull can be any of a variety ofzipper pull styles. In one version, a standard auto-lock, spring loadedzipper pull is provided.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a user 50 is shown wearing a preferred stretch belt 10having a pocket as described. The front panel 1 is shown secured to therear panel 2 along a stitch line 11. The stretch belt 10 is shown on thewaist of a user 50 in such a manner that allows the user to carry itemsin the pocket accessible via zippers 6 and 7, with zipper pulls 8 and 9.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a user wearing a stretch belt 10with pocket, and in this illustration the front zipper 6 is shown zippedto an open position such that an internal adjuster 21 is visible. Theadjuster 21 can be accessed through the front zipper 6, and therebythrough the front panel 1, for adjusting the length of an internaladjustment belt 20. The adjustment belt 20 is preferably made from alength of stretchy elastic, stretch strap, stretch webbing or similarmaterials. Accordingly, in the preferred version of the invention thestretch belt 10 has a fixed length (other than as may vary throughstretchiness of the fabric material) but the adjustment belt may bevaried in length by use of the adjuster.

The adjustment belt 20 as shown by itself in FIG. 24 (in partial cutawayview), removed from the stretch belt 10, and in section in FIG. 25(taken through section 25-25 in FIG. 20, but with the front and rearpanels removed for clarity of illustration). An adjuster, tri-glide,belt clasp, or other fastener 21 is attached to one end of theadjustment belt 20 via stitching 24 or other fasteners. In theillustrated example, the fastener is configured as a substantially rigidloop having a central cross-member in a configuration commonly known asa “tri-glide” buckle. One end of the adjustment belt is thereby securedto the center of the tri-glide fastener 21 by stitching 24, and theother end of the adjustment belt 20 is finished via folding over itselfand fastening in place via an end stitch 23.

The adjustment belt 20 is preferably cut to a length that is longer thana length defined by the combined front panel 1 and rear panel 2, suchthat it functions to add a desirable amount of adjustable constriction.Accordingly, when worn around the waist of a user, the adjustment belt20 can be threaded to itself as seen in FIG. 25 and secured by theadjuster or clasp, thereby allowing the user to adjust the size of theadjustment belt 20 such that stretch belt 10 can fit as snugly asdesired by a user.

FIG. 5 is a rear plan view of the stretch belt 10 and FIG. 4 is a frontplan view of the stretch belt 10. Section A-A is indicated in FIG. 4,and the corresponding sectional view is shown in FIG. 6 to illustrate asection through the front panel 1 and rear panel 2. FIG. 6 thus showshow the adjustment belt 20 is preferably captured in place and threadedthrough channels formed by belt retainers 3, 5 (and retainer 4 shown inFIG. 11). The belt retainers are preferably enclosed channels whichserve to constrain the position of the adjustment belt within thestretch belt 20, most preferably at one end of the stretch belt whichwould be positioned as the top end of the stretch belt when worn by theuser.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the front zipper 6 is installed in the frontpanel 1 by forming a slot corresponding to the length of the zipper 6 inthe front panel 1 and then fastening the front zipper 6 to the frontpanel 1 via perimeter stitching 31 such that the slit in the front panel1 provides access to the front pocket formed within the front panel andis closed by the front zipper 6.

The rear zipper 7 is installed in the rear panel 2 by forming a slotsubstantially the length of the rear zipper 7 in the rear panel 2 andfastening the rear zipper 7 to the rear panel 2 via perimeter stitching32 such that the slit in the rear panel 2 provides access to the rearpocket formed by the rear panel and is closed by zipper 7.

The front panel 1 includes in inside face (shown in FIG. 8) and anoutside face (shown in FIG. 9). When the front pocket is turned rightside out, the outside face of the fabric forming the front panel 1 isfacing outward away from the pocket created by the front panel 1 withclosure provided by zipper 6. Panel 2 likewise includes in inside face(shown in FIG. 8) and an outside face (shown in FIG. 9). When the rearpocket is turned right side out, the outside face of the fabric formingthe rear panel is facing outward away from the pocket created by therear panel 2 with closure provided by zipper 7. The front panel 1 ispreferably fastened to the rear panel 2 via stitching 12 or anotherfastener such that front panel 1 is connected to rear panel 2.

As seen in FIG. 7, belt retainers 3, 4 and 5 are preferably spaced andpositioned as shown and fastened in place by sewing along stitch line13. The belt retainers 3, 4 and 5 are preferably strips or swatches cutfrom the same or similar material used for the front and rear panels 1and 2, and edged as appropriate via stitching 14 and 15 by turning overthe ends or by other appropriate edge binding which is fastening inplace via stitching 14 and 15. After fastening with stitch 13, the beltretainers 3 and 4 are then folded over stitch 13 and fastened again tothe front panel 1 via stitching 17 (see FIG. 9) which is used to holdthe belt retainers temporarily in place such that they can be finallystitched in place by stitching 16 as can be seen in cross-sectional viewin FIG. 6 and also in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11.

After fastening with stitch 13, a rear belt retainer 5 is then foldedover along a line formed by stitch 13 and fastened again to the rearpanel 2 via stitching 17 which is used to hold the retainers temporarilyin place such that they can be finally stitched in place by stitching 16as can be seen in cross-section in FIG. 6 and also in FIG. 10 and FIG.11.

As seen in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 connected front and rear panels 1 and 2are placed with the inside-facing fabric facing out and are folded overthemselves inside-out and then fastened together via stitching 16 whichextends along one edge of the joined panels, creating an inside outtube. Most preferably, the end stitching 16 extends along what will bethe top end of the stretch belt when completed, with the top endpositioned higher than the bottom end when worn by a user. The createdinside out tube as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 is then inverted onitself such that the outside face of the fabric is facing out as shownin FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. Then the right-side-out tube as shown in FIG. 12is inverted half-way along its length such that the inside face of thefront panel 1 is facing outward and the inside face of the rear panel 2is facing inward wherein the outside faces of panels 1 and 2 are facingeach other as can be seen in FIG. 16. Once brought together in thisfashion, the outside faces of panels 1 and 2 are fastened together alongstitch line 11, fastening them together with cuff-manner stitching suchthat the tube can be inverted right side out to create the stretch belt.

The adjustment belt 20, having a fastener 21 at one end and an oppositefree end adjacent the stitch line 23 as shown in FIG. 24, is fed throughthe belt retainers 4, 5 and 3 such that the faster 21 resides in the gap22 created between the first front panel belt retainer 3 and the secondfront panel belt retainer 4 (see FIGS. 16 and 20). The adjustment belt20 thereby extends through the retainers 4, 5 and 3, emerging from firstfront panel belt retainer 3 at the adjacent gap 22. The adjustment belt20 may be adjusted (for example, decreasing the length and thereforecircumference of the corresponding adjustment belt) by pulling on thefree end adjacent the stitch 23 while holding the opposite end of theadjustment belt adjacent the fastener 21.

The fastener 21 is preferably formed from plastic, metal or otherrelatively stiff materials. The fastener 21 can be die-cut from sheetmaterial, injection molded, or otherwise formed.

After installing the adjustment belt 20 as shown in FIGS. 20 through 23(through the belt retainers as described above) the belt panels may befolded and stitched to form the stretch belt. As shown in FIG. 20, theadjustment belt 20 is installed in the retainers. In FIG. 21, thestretch belt 10 is inverted, inside-out, from the view of FIG. 20. Asshown in FIG. 21, the front zipper 6 is opened, with the rear zipper 7preferably closed. All of the rear panel 2 is then pulled through theopening of the front zipper zipper 6 such the stretch belt 10 isinverted to be right-side-out through the opening provided by open frontzipper 6. Once pulled out and inverted in this fashion, the front andrear panels 1 and 2 of the stretch belt 10 have their outside facesfacing outward as can be seen in FIG. 1 through FIG. 5.

FIG. 18 and FIG. 19 show another way the stretch belt 10 can be invertedand stitch 11 can be sewn as described above, though in this case thefront and rear panels are inverted before the adjustment belt is fedthrough the retainers.

As can be seen in FIG. 26, which is an outside plan view of a partiallyassembled stretch belt in which a center stitch 12 as described abovecan be eliminated and is not shown, and further in which the front panel1 and rear panel 2 are replaced by a single panel 60. In this version,instead of having front and rear panels the single belt panel 60 has afront and a rear portion, corresponding generally to the portions of thepanels that include the front zipper 6 and the rear zipper 7,respectively. FIG. 27 shows the opposite side of the view shown in FIG.26. The belt may be formed by joining the ends of the panel 60 together,with an adjustment belt and retainers such as described above. Anadditional stitch may optionally be included between the front and rearportions, generally at the location of the lead line for referencenumber 60, but in some versions the stitch may be omitted.

The stretch belt with pocket 10 is preferably constructed by sewingsubstantially flat die-cut panels of fabric or the like together.Although less preferred, it can be constructed by knitting, gluing,integrally forming or otherwise fastening parts together that have beenmanufactured from a variety of processes and techniques.

Preferably the fabric panels or parts of the stretch belt 10 are die cutfrom pliable and somewhat stretchy fabric as described above. Somematerials that could be used include spandex, spandura, stretch denim orothers. Panel parts can be constructed from a number fabrics ofdifferent materials in some versions. The invention could be constructedin a variety of different ways other than the cutting and sewingprocesses described above for the preferred versions. For example,various parts could be combined, formed as one, woven, heat sealedtogether, ultrasonically bonded together or formed in other ways.

The front panel 1 and rear panel 2 could be each further be formed fromtwo panels each fastened at the top and bottom of stretch belt 10. Ifdesired, the embodiment shown in FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 could beconstructed from a front panel and a rear panel fastened together at aseam adjacent the top of stretch belt 10 and the bottom of stretch belt10 or otherwise as desired.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, as noted above, many changes can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope ofthe invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferredembodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely byreference to the claims that follow.

We claim:
 1. A belt, comprising: a panel of material forming the belt,wherein the belt forms an endless loop configured to be placed about thewaist of a user; a pocket positioned on the panel of material formingthe belt; an adjustment belt attached to the panel of material, theadjustment belt having a length greater than a circumference defined bythe endless loop, the adjustment belt positioned with respect to thepanel such that the adjustment belt is placed about the waist of theuser together with the belt when the belt is placed about the waist ofthe user; and an adjuster connected to the adjustment belt, the adjusterreleasably securing the adjustment belt in a plurality of positions,whereby the length of the adjustment belt may be increased or decreased.2. The belt of claim 1, wherein the panel further comprises a frontpanel and a rear panel joined to the front panel.
 3. The belt of claim1, wherein the pocket is positioned on an interior surface of the panel.4. The belt of claim 3, further comprising a closure for selectiveaccess to the pocket.
 5. The belt of claim 4, wherein the closurecomprises a zipper.
 6. The belt of claim 1, wherein the panel ofmaterial forming the belt further forms an interior tube, and furtherwherein the adjustment belt is positioned within the interior tube andsurrounded by the panel of material forming the belt.
 7. The belt ofclaim 6 wherein the panel further comprises a plurality of panels. 8.The belt of claim 7, wherein the plurality of panels comprises a frontpanel and a rear panel joined to the front panel.
 9. The belt of claim6, further comprising at least one belt retainer positioned within theinterior tube, the adjustment belt being trained within the at least onebelt retainer.
 10. The belt of claim 9, wherein the interior tube formsthe pocket, the belt further comprising a closure for selective accessto the pocket.
 11. The belt of claim 10, wherein the adjuster ispositioned within an opening of the closure when the closure is in anopen position.
 12. The belt of claim 10, wherein the at least one beltretainer comprises a plurality of belt retainers, the plurality of beltretainers further defining a gap between two of the plurality of beltretainers, the adjuster being positioned at the gap when the adjustmentbelt is trained through the plurality of belt retainers.
 13. A belt,comprising: a front panel joined to a rear panel, the front panel andthe rear panel combining to form an endless loop configured to be placedabout the waist of a user; the front and rear panels further beingjoined together to define an interior pocket; an adjustment beltattached to the belt and positioned within the interior pocket, theadjustment belt having a length greater than a circumference defined bythe endless loop, the adjustment surrounding the waist of the usertogether with the belt when the belt is placed about the waist of theuser; and an adjuster connected to the adjustment belt and positionedwithin the pocket, the adjuster releasably securing the adjustment beltin a plurality of positions, whereby the length of the adjustment beltmay be increased or decreased.
 14. The belt of claim 13, furthercomprising a closure for selective access to the pocket.
 15. The belt ofclaim 14, wherein the closure comprises a zipper.
 16. The belt of claim13, wherein the pocket further forms an interior tube.
 17. The belt ofclaim 16, further comprising a belt retainer positioned within theinterior tube, the adjustment belt being trained within the beltretainer.
 18. The belt of claim 17, further comprising a closure forselective access to the pocket.
 19. The belt of claim 18, wherein theadjuster is positioned within an opening formed by the closure when theclosure is in an open position.
 20. The belt of claim 19, wherein thebelt retainer comprises a plurality of belt retainers, the plurality ofbelt retainers further defining a gap between two of the plurality ofbelt retainers, the adjuster being positioned at the gap when theadjustment belt is trained through the plurality of belt retainers.